US 12,344,372 B2
Variable noise reduction systems for supersonic aircraft, and associated methods
Marshall Gusman, Centennial, CO (US); Benjamin Clemen Murphy, Denver, CO (US); Allison Pelzel, Fort Lupton, CO (US); and Joseph A. Salamone, III, Centennial, CO (US)
Assigned to Boom Technology, Inc., Centennial, CO (US)
Filed by Boom Technology, Inc., Centennial, CO (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/890,973.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/235,066, filed on Aug. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0056909 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 30/00 (2006.01); B64C 13/16 (2006.01); B64D 31/06 (2024.01)
CPC B64C 30/00 (2013.01) [B64C 13/16 (2013.01); B64D 31/06 (2013.01); B64C 2220/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for reducing noise of a supersonic aircraft, the system comprising:
a computing device;
a thrust controller operably connected to the computing device and configured to adjust a thrust output of a propulsion system in response to thrust commands from the computing device; and
a flight control surface controller configured to adjust a position of one or more flight control surfaces in response to flight control surface commands from the computing device; wherein
(i) the computing device is programmed with takeoff instructions that, when executed:
adjust the thrust output of the propulsion system to a subsonic exhaust velocity;
vary the thrust output according to a first schedule of thrust output, while maintaining the thrust output below supersonic exhaust velocities, during an acceleration phase of a takeoff process, during a rotation phase of a takeoff process, and/or during a climb phase of a takeoff process; and
adjust the position of the one or more flight control surfaces according to a first schedule of flight control surface positions; and wherein
(ii) the computing device is programmed with approach instructions that, when executed:
vary the thrust output based on a second schedule of thrust output; and
adjust the position of the one or more flight control surfaces according to a second schedule of flight control surface positions, wherein adjusting the position of the one or more flight control surfaces according to the second schedule of flight control surface positions comprises:
(a) when the aircraft is above a selected altitude, positioning the one or more flight control surfaces to cause the aircraft to have a selected value of lift over drag that corresponds with a permissible noise level at a landing location; and
(b) when the aircraft is below the selected altitude, positioning the one or more flight control surfaces to increase lift of the aircraft without regard to a noise level of the aircraft.